Sierra County advocate. [volume] (Kingston, N.M.) 1884-1960, 1887-07-29
A NOTED LOTTERY OF LIFE.
How the Spafnards Dealt With Philip
Nolan and His Followers In S07.

1t is said that certain French peasants live
and keep strong on an exclusive diet of chest.
nuts, but Texas paper, weary Of the monot-
ony of the typical nuts shaken down in the
shape Of "reminiscences from Texas veterans
and pioneers, asks for some way to get rid
Of the old fellows and their many times
told tales. By no means said the fox
when the offer was made to drive away
his tormentors, for II these were gone they
would be followed by more numerous and
rapicious swarm. These narrators OF ancient
legends are comparatively few, and when the
heroes Of the late civil war, who have been
campaigning for long time In the papers and
magazines OF the North transfer the battle
field to Texas, people will forget that there
ever was battle of San Jaclnto, Texas, Their
mopyle, or Texas heroes The man who is
now tired OF war chronicle, will then sit down
and weep and sigh for the past like the daugh-
ters Of Israel by the waters of Babylon. War
has many incidental evils that are too seldom
thought Of, and people who are doomed to lis
ten to fables that follow 1t are among the vie
tins whose names do not appear in the lists
Of killed, wounded and missing. Some of these
victims wish they were.
The noted lottery Of life by which the fate
Of the MIer prisoners in Mexico was decided
by drawing black and white beans, is not the
only or first game of chance Of that kind
Americans were forced to play In Mexico
The Bolton News copies from the Old Spanish
records In the archives OF Mexico the official
account of the fate OF the followers of Philip
Nolan, who we're captured by the Spanlards
in 1907, near the site Of the present City Of
Waco.
'.In the own OF chihuahua, on the 9th day
OF the mon th Of November, 1907, in compli-
ance with decree OF His Majesty, the King
of Spain, transmitted to the commanding
General Of these provinces with royal order
Of the 93d of February in said year, |, Don
Antonio Garcia de Tejada, Adiutant Inspect
or Of the internal provinces of New Spain,
proceeded to the barracks OF said town, to-
gether with Don Pedro Ramos de Verea, Con-
sui for the foreigners who invade the country
under Philip Nolan, and Don Juan Jose Dlaz
Bustamante, Prosecuting Attorney; and hav-
ing caused the nine prisoners confined In said
barracks to assemble in room In order to
draw lots so that one of them may be ex-
ecuted, after they knelt, read the decree Of
heard the same agree ed to throw dice;
that the Oldest of them should throw
first; and he who threw the smallest
number should be hung This agreement
being made, drum, crystal tumbler and
two dice were bought, and ! ordered the
prisoners to llnel before the drum and be
blindfolded. Ephraim Blackburn. being the
oldest among the prisoners, took first the
glass The throwing was as follows Ephram
Blackburn, 3 and /, making 1; Luciano Gracis,
8 and 4, making Z; Joseph Reed, 6and s. max,
ing II; Jonah Walters, q and !, making Z;
Ellis Bean, and /, making s.; Wm. Danlin, 5
and 2, making7 Ephralm Blackburn having
thrown the smallest number, was hung at
the Blaza de los Urangas In the town OF Chi
huahua, on the llth Of November 1907.
Blackburn was Quaker and before the ex-
cution was converted to the Catholic religion
and baptized The balance of Nolsn's men
were sent to the different penal settlements
of the provinces, the furthcst from Louisiana,
where they remained until 1918 II is believed
that only Ellis Bean returned TO the United
States, the others having died after an i'm
prisonmcnt of eighteen years.
The diary kept by Nolan, and many of his
letters, which are 10 my possession, show con
clusiyely that be was not only a gallant aud
intelligent gentleman, but an accomplished
scholar He was thoroughly acquainted with
and geography. He made the first
map of Texas, which he presented to the
Baron de Carondelet on returning from his
first trip to Texas. Had be lived to see his
plans carried out, Texas, the land he loved,
would have been proud OF him. Nolan is
bdried in spot between Springfield and
Waco, where his fight with the Spaniards took
place.
Nolan aud his party were engaged in gath
ering wild horses in Texas when captured
Bakers Texas Scrap Boolii and "Yoakum's
History contain an account of the whole af-
fair The Spania DIS after having given Nolan
permission TO gather horses in Texas. took an
idea that he had flibustering schemes In vIew
He had only about twenty men, to wit: Four
teen Americans, one Frenchman, seven Span
iards, and two negro slaves. GalpeSton Nesos